Wagering game having draw-purchasing feature

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine includes the steps of receiving an initial wager from a player and dealing a set of initial game elements. The player is provided with an option to purchase an additional game element. In response to player input, none or more of the initial game elements are replaced with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, the method also includes dealing the additional game element to form a set of final game elements. The method further includes a step of evaluating the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/706,339 filed Aug. 8, 2005, titled “Wagering Game Having Draw-Purchasing Feature,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present concepts relate generally to gaming machines and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly, to gaming systems and methods having an option or game feature permitting a player to purchase or otherwise obtain, for an additional wager or the like, an additional game element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.

One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus” game that may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may additionally award players with “progressive jackpot” awards that are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines. Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators.

However, bonus games often comprise a comparatively short period in the overall player's wagering game play. The bulk of a player's time is spent playing the basic game. Therefore, predictability or staleness of the basic wagering game are serious impediments to long-duration wagering sessions and repeat wagering game play, no matter how enticing the bonus game. The present invention is directed to improving game play in the basic wagering game and, in combination or alternatively, in the bonus game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the concept of enhancing wagering game play by providing an outcome-purchasing feature or symbol-purchasing feature. A player may thus be provided, for an additional wager, an option for receiving one or more additional potential combinations of elements to increase the odds of achieving a winning combination of outcomes or symbols. In at least some embodiments, the present concepts relate to a draw-card purchasing feature used in combination with a machine-based draw poker wagering game.

In one aspect of the present concepts, In one aspect, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine includes the steps of receiving an initial wager from a player and dealing a set of initial game elements. After the dealing step, the player is provided with an option to purchase an additional game element. In response to player input, none or more of the initial game elements are replaced with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, the method also includes dealing the additional game element to form a set of final game elements. The method further includes a step of evaluating the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule.

In yet another aspect of the present concepts, a method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine includes the steps of receiving an initial wager from a player and dealing a set of initial playing cards from a deck. The method also includes, after the dealing step, a step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck. In response to player input, none or more of the initial cards are replaced with respective draw cards from the deck and, if the player exercised the option, the additional draw card is dealt to the player to form a set of final playing cards. The method also includes a step of evaluating the final set of playing cards relative to an award schedule.

In still another aspect of the present concepts, a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a display, an input device for receiving an initial wager from a player, and a controller. The controller is configured, upon execution of associated instructions, to display a deal of a set of initial game elements following receipt of the initial wager from the player and, after the deal, provide the player with an option to purchase an additional game element. In response to player input, the controller replaces none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, also deals the additional game element to form a set of final game elements. The controller is also configured to evaluate the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule.

In yet another aspect of the present concepts, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine includes the steps of receiving an initial wager from a player, comparing the initial wager to a minimum wager required to initiate an option to purchase an additional game element, and enabling the option if the initial wager is not less than the minimum wager required. The method also includes the steps of dealing a set of initial game elements and, in response to player input, replacing none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements. The method also includes dealing at least one additional game element if the option is enabled in the enabling step and evaluating the combination of game elements resulting from the dealing and replacing steps relative to an award schedule.

Additional aspects of the present concepts will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments and exemplary illustrations, a brief description of which is provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating the gaming machine;

FIGS. 3(a)-(f) are examples of aspects of a gaming system in accord with the present concepts.

FIG. 4 shows an example of at least some aspects of an example of a gaming system in accord with the present concepts.

FIG. 5 shows a method in accord with aspects of the present concepts.

FIG. 6 shows another method in accord with aspects of the present concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 is used in gaming establishments such as casinos. With regard to the present invention, the gaming machine 10 may be any type of gaming machine and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For example, the gaming machine 10 may be an electromechanical gaming machine configured to play mechanical slots, or it may be an electronic gaming machine configured to play a video casino game, such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette, etc.

The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input device 24. For output the gaming machine 10 includes a primary display 14 for displaying information about the basic wagering game. The primary display 14 can also display information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for displaying game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described below, it is to be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any combination to create various forms of a gaming machine 10.

The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives currency and/or credits that are inserted by a player. The value input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin currency (see FIG. 1). Alternatively, or in addition, the value input device 18 may include a bill acceptor 22 for receiving paper currency. Furthermore, the value input device 18 may include a ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit storage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access to a central account, which can transfer money to the gaming machine 10.

The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display 14 and used to operate the gaming machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key 30 or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons 26. Alternatively, push buttons 26 may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of the game.

The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen in FIG. 1, or may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the housing 12 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods. Thus, the gaming machine 10 comprises these components whether housed in the housing 12, or outboard of the housing 12 and connected remotely.

The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the entire monitor (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to display the randomly generated game outcome in visual association to at least one payline 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 14 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 14 is slanted at an angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10.

A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The basic game comprises, in essence, the display of a plurality of game elements bearing randomly generated symbols on display 14. In at least some configurations, at least one payline 32 is provided to denote combinations of the displayed game elements which may be eligible for comparison to predetermined winning combinations defined in the wagering game's pay table. A symbol or symbol combination of the displayed game elements may comprise a start-bonus combination triggering a bonus game.

In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include a player information reader 52 that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in FIG. 1 as a card reader, but may take on many forms including a ticket reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable storage medium interface. Currently, identification is generally used by casinos for rewarding certain players with complimentary services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled in the gaming establishment's loyalty club and may be awarded certain complimentary services as that player collects points in his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her card into the player information reader 52, which allows the casino's computers to register that player's wagering at the gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 may use the secondary display 16 or other dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player with information about his or her account or other player-specific information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader 52 may be used to restore game assets that the player achieved and saved during a previous game session.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming machine 10 are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 34, also referred to herein as a controller or processor (such as a microcontroller or microprocessor). To provide gaming functions, the controller 34 executes one or more game programs stored in a computer readable storage medium, in the form of memory 36. The controller 34 performs the random selection (e.g., using a random number generator (RNG)) of a symbol or outcome from the plurality of possible symbols or outcomes associated with the wagering game. Alternatively, the random event may be determined at a remote controller. The remote controller may use either an RNG or pooling scheme for its central determination of a game outcome. It should be appreciated that the controller 34 may include one or more microprocessors, including but not limited to a master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel processor.

The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36 and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or credits have been input via the value input device 18. Preferably, these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods.

As seen in FIG. 2, the controller 34 is also connected to, and controls, the primary display 14, the player input device 24, and a payoff mechanism 40. The payoff mechanism 40 is operable in response to instructions from the controller 34 to award a payoff to the player in response to certain winning combinations that might occur in the basic game or the bonus game(s). The payoff may be provided in the form of points, bills, tickets, coupons, cards, etc. For example, in FIG. 1, the payoff mechanism 40 includes both a ticket printer 42 and a coin outlet 44. However, any of a variety of payoff mechanisms 40 well known in the art may be implemented, including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash, etc. The payoff amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism 40 are determined by one or more pay tables stored in the system memory 36.

Communications between the controller 34 and both the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems 50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More specifically, the controller 34 controls and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, etc.). The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, another controller (e.g., 65) or a variety of other interfaced systems or components. Although I/O circuits 46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.

Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine 10 that may communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise one or more controllers or processors. For example, one portion of a controller 34 may control, inter alia, game-related functions for a gaming machine 10 and another portion of the same controller may control, inter alia, game-related functions for an attached gaming machine or group of gaming machines. Alternatively, control of such functions could be divided amongst two or more separate controllers (e.g., 34, 65). In FIG. 2, the controller 34 in the gaming machine 10 is depicted as comprising a CPU, but the controller 34 may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with other components, such as the I/O circuits 46, 48 and the system memory 36.

While the gaming machine 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described with respect to a single wagering game providing a basic game and a bonus game, the gaming machine 10 may be connected, linked, or linkably or selectively coupled to other gaming machines for playing a community wagering game. Such coupled gaming machines may be connected to a common controller 34, which may be locally or remotely disposed and which may optionally reside within one of the gaming machines, or may be connected to separate controllers 34 having communication paths established therebetween. An optional signage may be provided including a game screen for displaying a game, a wagering game, game-related graphics, or other textual or graphical information related to the wagering game.

A gaming system for playing a wagering game in accord with some embodiments of the present concepts is show in FIGS. 3(a)-(f). In the examples of FIGS. 3(a)-(f), a gaming machine 10, such as that of the type represented in FIGS. 1-2, is configured to play a wagering game including a plurality of randomly generated game elements 315 bearing a representative symbol or symbols. The controller 34 (FIG. 2) is operatively associated with the gaming machine 10, as noted above, and is configured to randomly generate a game element 315 from a plurality of potential game elements in response to a wager.

In FIGS. 3(a)-(e), a plurality (e.g., five) of game elements 315 (e.g., cards) are shown as being dealt to the player (i.e., game elements 310 a-e comprising a player's hand 301) and to a dealer (i.e., game elements 320 a-e comprising a dealer's hand 305). The example of FIGS. 3(a)-(e) shows aspects of the present concepts for at least some embodiments embodied in a draw poker game. The game elements 315 may optionally comprise one or more “wild” elements. For example, in a card-based embodiment, the cards may issue from one or more standard decks including one or more Jokers, which constitute wild cards. Wagering games in accord with the present concepts may also optionally permit a player, or the computer, to designate one or more standard cards (e.g., a “2” or deuce) as being “wild”.

FIG. 3(a)-(b) generally show the discarding of game element 315 in position 340 in favor of a new draw card and FIG. 3(d) shows the resulting new draw card. In accord with at least some embodiments of the present concepts, such as represented in FIGS. 3(c) and 3(e), a game feature or option or option is provided in which the input of an additional wager permits the purchase of one or more additional game elements 315. This or these additional game element(s) 315 thus provide the potential for additional winning combinations of game elements.

The additional wager input to purchase the additional game element(s) 315 could be configured to be any amount appropriate to game play and could include, for example, a linear or substantially linear progression wherein one additional randomly generated game element 315 bearing a symbol is provided per additional credit wagered or one additional game element is provided per 10 additional credits wagered. In at least some embodiments, the additional wager could comprise a multiple (e.g., 2×, 3×, 4×, etc.) of the initial wager (e.g., a $2 additional wager for a $1 initial wager). The additional wager could alternatively, for example, comprise a non-linear or substantially non-linear progression wherein a first additional game element 315 is provided for a first additional wager of 5 credits, a second additional game element is provided for a second additional wager of 15 credits, a third additional game element 315 is provided for a third additional wager of 30 credits, etcetera, such as shown in FIG. 3(c). In this example, three additional game elements 315 could be obtained for an additional total wager of 50 credits.

Still further, in another embodiment of the present concepts, the additional wager might be a “value-determinative” amount calculated by the controller 34. In other words, the additional wager amount could bear a relation to the actual odds that the additional game element 315 might produce a different (e.g., higher value) winning combination and to the associated payout of that potential different winning combination. In such embodiment, increased odds and/or higher payouts for a particular combination would increase a player's cost to purchase each additional game element 315. This aspect need not require a strict correlation and could take into consideration other game play factors to foster continued player enjoyment.

FIGS. 3(a)-(e) depict one example of aspects of the present concepts wherein the option to obtain or purchase an additional game element is provided following a reveal of all of the game elements 315 to the player and prior to the selection of a game element to discard in favor of a successive randomly generated game element. The illustrated timing of the option is not limiting, as discussed below.

As noted above, FIG. 3(a) shows that the randomly generated game elements 315 in positions 320 a-e bear symbols “A,” “K,” “Q,” “6,” and “J,” respectively, and FIG. 3(b) shows the game element in position 320 d to have been selected for discard in favor of a new game element. In accord with some embodiments of the game feature or option, such as represented in FIG. 3(c), the player is offered the opportunity to obtain or purchase, via an additional wager, one or more additional game elements 315 (e.g., an additional draw card which supplements a hand of cards by increasing the number of cards in the hand by one without a corresponding discard), further to the normal draw represented in FIGS. 3(b) and 3(d). In some embodiments of the game feature or option, the player may be offered the opportunity to obtain two, three, four, five, or any predetermined maximum number of additional draw cards further to the draw cards associated with the normal draw. The maximum number of additional game elements 315 available through the game feature or option is preferably limited to no more than two or three additional game elements, but the present concepts are not limited thereto. Some embodiments of the game feature or option may even permit an unlimited number of opportunities for a player to purchase additional game elements 315, subject to an appropriate balance of game design for a particular application including variables such as pay table(s) and/or required wager(s).

In the present example, it is assumed that the player elects to receive and wagers on one additional game element (e.g., one additional draw card) from the prompt in FIG. 3(c). FIG. 3(d) shows the reveal of FIG. 3(c)'s unrevealed game element in position 320 d, wherein the discarded “6” (position 340) of the originally dealt hand (FIG. 3(a)) is replaced with a queen, “Q,” improving the initial hand. FIG. 3(e) shows the player receiving, in position 320 d′, the additional game element 315 in FIG. 3(c). The randomly generated game element 315 in position 320 d′ is an ace, “A”. FIG. 3(f) shows a representation of one aspect of the present concepts, wherein the original player's hand 301 is shown relative to the player's final hand 375 showing the replacement of the discarded card (i.e., “6” from FIG. 3(a)) with the draw card (“Q,” FIG. 3(d)) and the additional game element 315 (“A,” FIG. 3(e)). The player's final hand comprises an expanded set 375 of all of the retained game elements 315 bearing symbols (i.e., “A,” “K,” “Q,” “Q,” “A,” “J”). The expanded set 375 of game elements 315 comprises a number of game elements in excess of the predetermined number of game elements associated with the normal game play. Thus, in the present example, the predetermined number of game elements 315 is five and the expanded set 375 of game elements would comprise six or more game elements.

FIG. 3(f) shows that, in at least some embodiments, the expanded set 375 yields three separate sets of winning combinations S1 (“Q, Q”), S2 (“A, A”), and S3 (“A, A, Q, Q”), respectively. In one aspect of the present concepts, the controller 34 may be configured to automatically provide awards for each of the winning combinations S1, S2, S3, or the like, or may alternatively be configured to provide an award only for the highest of the winning combinations. In another aspect, the player may be permitted to opt for an award which would include all winning sets upon an input of an additional wager prior to events such as, but not limited to, initiation of game play or a reveal of a draw card. In yet another aspect, the player may be automatically granted an award that includes all winning combinations provided the player has input an initial or additional wager of a minimum predetermined level. In this latter aspect, for example, a player who wagers a maximum amount in a given turn or over a predetermined period may be automatically entitled to receive the maximum award including all winning combinations.

Additional variations of the present concepts might also permit the “discarded” game elements 315 to be retained within the expanded set 375. For example, the “6” from the original or first set of game elements 315 (i.e., the original player's hand 301) could be retained for purposes of determining winning combinations and would not be completely discarded in favor of the subsequent set(s) of game elements 315. Thus, the original plurality of game elements 315 may optionally comprise a separate set of combinations retained for comparison to a plurality of predetermined winning combinations.

Similarly, in another aspect of the present concepts, each set generated by the associated wager is separately compared by the controller 34 to a predetermined plurality of winning combinations of game elements 315. Applied to the above example, the initial wager yields a first set of randomly determined game elements 315 shown in FIG. 3(a), a second set of randomly determined game elements in FIG. 3(d) and, through an additional wager, a third set of randomly determined game elements shown in FIG. 3(e). Thus, each of the first, second, and third sets of randomly generated game elements 315 comprises a distinct and separate set from one another that is separately compared by the controller 34 to a predetermined plurality of winning combinations. In contrast to the depiction in FIG. 3(f), wherein three sets of winning combinations S1, S2, S3 are shown, this embodiment would yield, in the present example, only two winning combinations (e.g., “Q, Q” and “A, A”) and would not include the two-pair outcome noted in the previous example (e.g, “A, A, Q,

In accord with various embodiments of the present aspects, the timing of the player's opportunity to take advantage of the game feature or option may be selectively constrained. In presently preferred embodiments, the player may be constrained to input or dedicate the additional wager corresponding to the game feature or option even prior to initiation of the wagering game (e.g., prior to an initial deal) or subsequent to the initiation of the wagering game and/or an initial deal, but prior to a reveal of any of the game elements 315 dealt to the player. In yet another embodiment, the player may be constrained to input or dedicate the additional wager corresponding to the option subsequent to the initial deal, but prior to a reveal of all of the game elements 315 dealt to the player. For example, in a deal of 5 game elements 315, the player may be constrained to input or dedicate the additional wager corresponding to the option following a reveal of one, two, three, or four of the five game elements. The option may alternatively be configured to accept an additional wager input following a reveal of all of the game elements 315 to the player, but only prior to the selection of a game element to discard in favor of a successive randomly generated game element, such as illustrated by way of the example of FIGS. 3(a)-(e).

In still another embodiment of the present concepts, the game feature or option may be configured to complete the game play associated with the initial wager and permit activation of the game feature or option following a reveal of such successive game element 315 bearing a randomly generated symbol flowing from the initial wager. Still further, in yet another embodiment, the player may be given the option of when to designate one or more game elements under the game feature or option, but with an increasing cost as game play progresses. For example, the required amount of the additional wager may be lower if the game feature or option is enabled by input of and dedication of an additional wager prior to initiation of the wagering game or prior to any game elements 315 being discarded. Correspondingly, the required amount of the additional wager would then be higher if the game feature or option is enabled after the reveal of a newly generated game element 315 (e.g., following a reveal of a draw card).

Thus, although the presently preferred embodiments constrains the input or dedication of the additional wager corresponding to the option prior to initiation of the wagering game or initial deal, the input or dedication of the additional wager corresponding to the option may, in effect, be permitted at any time, with corresponding adjustments being made to factors such as game play, required additional wager amount, and/or potential payout, as required.

In accord with the above, some embodiments of the present concepts include a game feature or option wherein, following an additional wager by a player, the controller 34 outputs to at least one of the displays 14, 16 one or more additional randomly generated game elements 315 bearing symbols selected from a plurality of potential game elements. In accord with these embodiments, a player may, for example, input an additional wager to obtain one or more additional game elements 315 (i.e., cards) to convert a standard 5-card poker hand into a 6-card, 7-card, or 8-card hand. Therefore, according to at least some embodiments of the present concepts, a wagering game issues a standard number “n” of game elements in response to an initial wager. The player may optionally input an additional wager to enable or activate a game feature or option to obtain “m” additional game elements 315, where “n” and “m” may comprise any integers, to obtain a total number of (n+m) game elements. Resulting combinations of game elements 315, whether “n” and/or (n+m), are then compared to a predetermined number of winning combinations of game element symbols having “n” or a lesser number (i.e., n, n−1, n−2, etc.) of game element symbols to determine if any game element symbol(s) or combination(s) thereof comprises a winning combination. For example, a set of (n+m) playing cards comprising a total of 8 cards includes numerous subsets of or combinations of 5 cards, 4 cards, 3 cards, and 2 cards which would be compared, in a poker-based game, to predetermined sets of winning 5 card, 4 card, 3 card, and 2 card combinations (e.g., pair, three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, full house, straight, etc.).

FIG. 4 shows a representation of at least some aspects of the present concepts. The top row of FIG. 4 shows an exemplary initial deal of a hand of n game elements 315, represented as cards, where “n” is five. The various sets of “n” cards represented in the examples of FIG. 4 are generally denoted by the dashed line 410. The second row of FIG. 4 shows an example where, following a discard of the game element 315 bearing the randomly determined symbol “6” thereon (the “6” card), the discarded “6” card is replaced by a subsequent randomly generated game element 315 (e.g., a draw card) having a symbol associated therewith to retain the hand at “n” cards. In this example of the second row, the randomly determined game element 315 associated with the draw card has not been revealed. The third row of FIG. 4 shows an example wherein “m” additional game elements 315 are selected by the player in response to the player's input of an additional wager. In this example, “m” is equal to one. The fourth and bottom row of FIG. 4 shows an example wherein “m” additional game elements 315 are selected and “m” is shown to be equal to two. As previously noted, the aspect of the present concepts shown in the fourth row of FIG. 4 represents a case wherein “m,” here two, additional game elements 315 are selected by the player in response to the player's input of an additional wager. In some embodiments of the present concepts, the “m” additional game elements 315 are dealt together with the draw card(s), if any, for a substantially contemporaneous reveal to the player. As further noted above, the “m” additional game elements 315 which may be purchased by the player are not unlimited. It may be desirable, however, to generally constrain the number of additional game elements 315 which might be purchased by the player to generally correspond to the possible permutations of game elements and/or symbols permitted in accord with the wagering game. Hence, higher numbers of game elements 315 and/or symbol combinations and permutations permitted by the wagering game would reasonably permit a higher number of “m” additional game elements 315.

Although a dealer's hand 305 is represented in FIGS. 3(a)-(e) to illustrate the amenability of the present concepts to a competitive play environment, such competitive play aspects are not required. For example, the game feature or option may be incorporated into a solitary game wherein the player's hand 301 or players game element 315 symbols are compared to winning combinations defined in a pay table of predetermined winning outcomes and the associated payout. Still further, the present concepts may be utilized in a group wagering game environment wherein multiple players are competitively playing against each other or are cooperatively playing against the computer or house.

The present concepts include any manner of presentation of game elements 315 bearing randomly determined symbols to a player on a display 14, 16 or other output device. The presentation of the game elements 315 may include, but is not limited to, wagering games comprising card-based gaming environments (e.g., video-poker, draw poker, etc.), symbol-based games, reel-based games, board-game themed environments, and video games presented on a display. Accordingly, in at least some embodiments, the game elements 315 may comprise any suit and denomination of playing card, any number in a predetermined range of numbers, any letter or character of a selected alphabet, etcetera.

In accord with the present concepts, the additional wager need not consist of a discrete first wager and a discrete and definable second wager. Instead, the present concepts also include enabling the game feature or option simply by the amount of the wager registered upon initial of game play. Thus, the initial wager itself may determine whether or not the player receives an additional game element 315 (e.g., an additional draw card). Similarly, the amount of the initial wager may also determine the number of additional game elements 315.

Continuing with the above example, a method of conducting a draw-poker wagering game on a gaming machine includes, in at least some embodiments, the steps of receiving an initial wager from a player (S400) and dealing a set of initial playing cards from a deck (S410). The method further includes a step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck (S420). This step (S420) may occur after the dealing step, but occurs prior to the dealing step in a presently preferred embodiment. In response to player input, the method includes the steps of replacing none or more of the initial cards with respective draw cards from the deck (S430) and, if the player exercised the option, also dealing the additional draw card to form a set of final playing cards (S440). The method also includes the step of evaluating the final set of playing cards relative to an award schedule (S450). The step of evaluating the final set of playing cards (S450) may include, for example, determining which combinations of cards comprise a winning combination, the combination arising from an expanded set (e.g., including cards generated in steps S420, S430, and S440, minus any discarded cards). In accord with at least some other embodiments of the present concepts, the various cards dealt in steps S420, S430, and S440 may be treated as separate sets to be individually compared by controller 34 to the predetermined plurality of winning combinations. In one embodiment of this latter aspect, the game feature or option may optionally be configured to replace replacement card(s) generated in step S430 with the additional card(s) generated in step S450.

It is noted that the methods associated with the present concepts are not limited to the above-described poker example and may encompass any machine-based wagering game environment. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine in accord with the present concepts includes receiving an initial wager from a player (S500) and dealing a set of initial game elements (S510). The method also includes the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element (S520). This step (S520) may occur after the dealing step, but occurs prior to the dealing step in a presently preferred embodiment. The method also includes, in response to player input, a step of replacing none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, also dealing the additional game element to form a set of final game elements (S530). The method further includes a step of evaluating the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule (S540).

The present concepts also include a computer readable storage medium or media encoded with instructions for directing a gaming machine 10 to perform the aforementioned acts. In other words, the gaming machine controller 34 executes one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in a memory (e.g., system memory 36) or storage device, or received from an external system 50. Execution of the sequences of instructions causes controller 34 to perform the process steps described herein.

The term computer-readable medium, or the like, as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to controller 34 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media (e.g., optical or magnetic disks), volatile media (e.g., dynamic memory), and transmission media (e.g., coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optics, acoustic waves, light waves, and radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communication). Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, including physical mediums with patterns of transmissive portions and non-transmissive portions provided therein, RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. For example, aspects of the present concepts in which the player makes a selection of game elements may instead be delegated by the player to the computer or game. It further bears repeating that the presently disclosed concepts may be equally applied to other gaming environments, such as reel-based games wherein the game elements 315 are reel symbols and such as wagering games which might employ numbers and/or letters as game elements (e.g., word jumble or spelling-type games). Moreover, the present concepts apply not only to basic wagering games, but also to bonus games and any other type of wagering game or associated game.

The appended claims reflect certain aspects and combinations of the present concepts, but are not exhaustive of all such aspects and combinations. For example, the present concepts include all possible logical combinations of the claims and of the various claim elements appended hereto, without limitation, within the associated claim sets regardless of the presently indicated dependency. 

1. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising: receiving an initial wager from a player; dealing a set of initial game elements; providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element; in response to player input, replacing none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, also dealing the additional game element to form a set of final game elements; and evaluating the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule.
 2. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element is provided before the dealing step.
 3. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the game elements are randomly selected.
 4. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the game elements comprises a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
 5. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the game elements is designated as a wild game element.
 6. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element is provided after the dealing step.
 7. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element includes an option to purchase a plurality of additional game elements, and wherein the purchase price of each successive additional game elements is higher than that of the preceding additional game element.
 8. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the set of initial game elements comprises five game elements.
 9. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element occurs prior to a reveal of any of the game elements to the player.
 10. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine, comprising: receiving an initial wager from a player; dealing a set of initial playing cards from a deck; providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck; in response to player input, replacing none or more of the initial cards with respective draw cards from the deck and, if the player exercised the option, also dealing the additional draw card to form a set of final playing cards; and evaluating the final set of playing cards relative to an award schedule.
 11. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck is provided before the dealing step.
 12. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck is provided only prior to the reveal of the initial playing cards.
 13. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 12, wherein the cards are randomly selected.
 14. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 12, wherein the deck comprises a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
 15. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 12, wherein the deck comprises at least one card designated as a wild card.
 16. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 14, wherein the deck comprises at least one wild Joker in addition to the 52 playing cards of the standard deck.
 17. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 12, wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck is provided for an additional wager.
 18. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 17, wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck includes providing the player with an option to purchase additional draw cards for successively higher additional wagers.
 19. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 12, wherein the set of initial cards includes five cards.
 20. A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to claim 12, wherein the evaluating act comprises providing awards for an award schedule including at least one of a straight flush, four-of-a-kind, full house, straight, three-of-a-kind, two pair, and a pair.
 21. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising. a display; an input device for receiving an initial wager from a player, and a controller configured, upon execution of associated instructions, to display a deal of a set of initial game elements following receipt of the initial wager from the player, provide the player with an option to purchase an additional game element, in response to player input, replace none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, also dealing the additional game element to form a set of final game elements, and evaluate the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule.
 22. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game according to claim 21, wherein the controller is configured, upon execution of associated instructions, to provide the player with the option to purchase the additional game element before the deal.
 23. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game according to claim 22, wherein the game elements comprise a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
 24. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the game elements is designated as a wild game element.
 25. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game according to claim 22, wherein the option to purchase an additional game element requires a first amount, and wherein the purchase of successive game elements requires at least a second amount equal to or greater than the first amount.
 26. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising: receiving an initial wager from a player; comparing the initial wager to a minimum wager required to initiate an option to purchase an additional game element; enabling said option if the initial wager is not less than the minimum wager required; dealing a set of initial game elements; replacing, in response to player input, none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements; dealing at least one additional game element if said option is enabled in said enabling step; and evaluating the combination of game elements resulting from the dealing and replacing steps relative to an award schedule.
 27. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 26, wherein the game elements comprise cards randomly selected from at least one standard deck of playing cards.
 28. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 26, wherein the deck comprises at least one card designated as a wild card.
 29. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to claim 27, wherein the wagering game comprises a draw poker game. 